Vegetable cutter



Oct. 11, 1949. H, J. GARDNER 2,484,281

VEGETABLE CUTTER Filed Oct. 28, 1946 Z'Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1949. H. .1. GARDNER 2,434331 r VEGETABLE CUTTER Filed oct. 28, 1946 2 sheets-she 2 Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED sTATi-:s PATENT OFFICE VEGETABLE CUTTER Harry J. Gardner, Traverse City, Mich.

Application October 28, 1946, Serial No. 706,225

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices for cutting Vegetables or the like, the primary Object of the nvention being to provide a device of this character which will embody adjustable means, whereby increased versatility is given the device as to the types of vegetables which can be cut thereby, and as to the shapes and thickness of the out portions. i

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is suitable for easy manual Operation, is simple in construction, having few parts, `and which can be readily assembled in order to `permit facility in cleaning the device after use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which Will appear as the description proceeds, the

4 invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. v

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vegetable cutter Constructed inV accordancev with the invention. I i H e Figure 2 is a rear elevationalview. Figure 3 is a sectional view takenon line 3- Of Figure 2. v 1 i Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the invention is basically constructed with a stationary or base portion, which serves as a support or holder for the article being Vcut,and`a movable cutting member mounted on the base portion.

Referringto the stationary or -base portion, the invention embodies transversely -crossed horizontal base members 5 and 6,0which are-joinedintermediate their ends by welding means or the like. Legs 1, which areV preferably formed of rubber material, are secured to the base member 5; and there are secured to the base-memb'er 6' suction cups 8, which, togther withV the legs 1,' form a sespaced openings 12 disposed in the surface of the holder 9, which contribute to drainage of Vegetable juices during the cutting Operation. Further, the holder 9 is provided with spaced notches I3 in its leading edge, along which the vegetables are out, said notches accommodating the outer side edges of spaced knives which are embodied in the invention and which will be discussed hereinafter in detail.

Referring further to the stationary portion of the device, vertical elongated supporting rods I4 are fixedly mounted on the ends of the horizontal base member 5, and serve as a track for the cutting portion of the device, which is mounted between said rods for vertical and slidable movement thereon.

This cutting portion embodies basically two members, one of which is a longitudinal knife cure and shock-absorbent base for Operation of the device.

Fixedly mounted on the`base members 5 and 6 is a vegetable' holder 9,- ,which is'- connectedto said base members by means of a-Vertical plate Ill,

there being cooperating brackets II.. between the holder, plate, and' base members, which serve to keep the holder and vertical plate in fiXed position during cutting Operations.v u

The vegetable holder 9 serves'as a platform on which vegetablesare positionedbpreparatory to their being cut by the device-and accordingly, the holder is preferably'formed'with a depressed curved surface, in Order to provide' a steadi'er support for the vegetable; Ther'are, int'addition,

member integrally formed with sleeves and a handle, and the other a member pivoted to the first member and carrying a set of knives arranged in transverse cooperating relation to the longitudinal knife member.

The longitudinal knife member embodies a body portion IE which has its lower edge formed as a knife IB longitudinally disposed between the vertical supporting rods 14. In addition, the body portion I5 is integrally formed at the lower ends of its Sides with long sleeves l'l which are slidably mounted on the rod I4, and which extend downwardly below the lower edge of the body portion I5 for a considerable distance. From the upper ends of the sleeves IT, the sides of the body portion I5 are tapered, the top and sides of the body portion being formed integrally into a handle 18 which is adapted either to be grasped in moving the cutting portion of the device upwardly, or to serve as a support for the heel of the palm in moving the cutting member downwardly.

One of the vertical supporting rods Ill is provided at its upper end with exterior threading, for receiving a cap nut I9, which serves as a stop preventing the cutting portion of the device from being dismounted from the rod M during operation of the device, said cap nut providing in addition means for dismounting the cutting portion from the rods hl, when it is desired to disassemble the device for cleaning purposes or the like.

Pivotally mounted to the. sleeve I'l is a vertical plate 20 having trunnions 2| extending from its sides at its lower edge, said trunnions being removably positioned within ears 22 projeoting from the sleeve IT, at the lower ends of the sleeve.

Mounted on the plate 20 along its upper edge are small knives 2,3 which are disposed at right angles to the plate, having their lower edges formed as their lcutting edges, and which are arranged in spaced relation to each other.

As previously mentioned, and as can be clearly seen by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings,

3 the knives 23 are disposed transversely to the knife 16, and their out/wardly extended side edges project beyond the cutting edge of the knife IS, When thepl'at'e is in vertical position, as shown by the full lines in Figure 3.

Means are embodied in the invention for adjustment of the knives 23 in relation to the knif IS. A shaft 24 is revolvably mounted in bearing openings formed in ears 25 rearwardly projecting from the sleeves I near the upp'er ends' of th'e' ioA sleeves, the s-haft Zil being provided With avvinged head 26, so as to permit easy manipulation of the adjusting means, and With pinions 21, vvhifch In addition, coop'erating stop pr'ojections 29 are i formed on the sleeve I and the plate 29, Whereby the plate -2 is :prevented from pivoting lin a foi'vvardV direction beyond lits vertical position.

When the plate Zil is in vertical position, it is in ipa-r'allel spaced .relation to the longitudinally disposed knife 16. Thus., the plate 20, When raised, serves as a stop or guide against iwhich 4 1. A device for cutting vegetables or the like, embodying a base, means for securing the base to a supporting surface, a vegetable holder fixedly mounted on the base, and having a depressed eurved surface formed with ope'nings disposed in the surface, spaced rods vertically and fixedly niounted on the base, a cutting member slidably m'ounte'd on said rods, said cutting member having a knife integrally formed therein and being longitu'dinally -disp'osed between the rods, a handle, andfsleeves Whereby the cutting member is slidably mounted on said rods, a longitudinally dispost-:(1V 4enlargement rearwardly projecting from' said cutting member adjacent to and above the knife vof the Vcuttinfg member,` a `cutting member pivotall'y .mounted on the sleeves, having spaced knives transversely dispos'ed to the aforesaid longitudinal-iy disposed llinife, means for pivotally a'djusting the i'attercutting member inrelation to the first cutting member, said adjusting means comprising a shaft, ears rearwardly projectinig from the sleeves, said ears being provided With horizontally aligned bearing openifngs, the shaft being revolvably .mounted in the openings, -a winged nut :on the shaft, .pinions on the shaft, and cooperating racks on the latter cutting member, cooperating stopprojections -on the sleeves and latter cutting member, a-nd means for dismounting of the said cutting-members from the device the vegetablebeing cut may be positioned prior to the user moving the km'ves doWnWardIy fo'r the purpose of Icutting the vegetable as desired..`

by reason of an enlarged plortion tt horizonta'llly extending -across the vrear face of the body :portion 5 above the kni'fe IE and in :parallelfrelation to the knife 16.

When the `plate 29 is adjusted to the position shown by the'dottedlinesfof Figure 3, or reinov'ed fnom the cdevice entirely, it is yadvzlitionally possible to operate the device as a slicer, for Lpo'tatoes, carrots, or the'like, or to use it to :out VegetabIes or fruit into large segments if desired. Further, `it is adapted for shredding suchvegetables as cabbage, or lettuce, by adj'usti-ng :the plate 20 to a vertical position, or if desired, by adjusting it to a position suchas is iindicated by the dotted lines of Figure -3.

Also, vegetables can be cut by the device ar'id returned for furtherV cutting, Vpermitting `l(lili'cin'g or chopping of the vegetables by easy means.

The `description of the invention which has been provided herein, and the drawings an'nxed, have been confined to showing the invention `in =a ,position for vertical loperation of the cutting Sporand from each other.

2. A devi'ce for cutting vegetables or the like, embodying a base, means for securing the base to a -su-pporting surface, a vegetable holder fixedly mounted on the base, having a. depressed curved surface and having -openings disposed Vin the surface, spa'ced rods verftica-llyand fixedly mounted on the base, a cutting member slidably mounted on said rods, said cutting member having a lknife integrally fformed therein, said k-nife being dis- .pesed longitudinally .between the rods, a handle formed on the cutting member, sleevesformed on the ends-of the eut-ting member, whereby the cutting lmember is slidably mounted on said rods,

a longitudinally disposed enlargement projecting rearwardly from said eutting member adiacent to and above the knife formed in the cutting member, .a cutting member :pivotally flmounted lon the -sleeveembodying spacedknives transversely disfl posed to the aforesaid long-itudinally disposed knife-means-for adfjusting the latter cutting-member to various positions rearwardly of :the first cutting member, said Yadjusting means comprising-pinionmeansmountedonthe sleeves and cooperating rack means -mounted on the latter-cutting member, `cooperating stop .projections preventing forwardipivotal movement of the latter cutting member beyond a vertical position, and -means for'rdisrnounting of the said lcutting members from the .device and from each other.

-HARRY J. GARDNER.

REFEREN CES CITED rlhe ``following referenc'es are of record in lthe file of v:patent:` 

